Global health alert over new virus

The World Health Organization (WHO)has issued a global alert on a new viral infection which has killed one person and left another in critical condition.

The viral infection is being caused a newly identified Coronavirus.

WHO says very little is known of the new Coronavirus including its mode of transmission although it belongs to the group of viruses known to cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the deadly SARS.

The two victims are said to have presented with severe respiratory and renal failure.

Gregory Hartl from WHO says the virus appears to have a link with the Arabian peninsular as both victims had visited Saudi Arabia on diverse dates.

"It is a new virus, it is novel, and it is distinct from SARS at least in the fact that we have seen so far it causes very rapid renal failure. We have been working with public health authorities around the world to alert them to the existence of the virus and to try and have more information about any other possible cases that might have been seen, so far we have not seen any others. But we need to know – is this virus more widespread than we currently know? We don’t yet know how it transmits if it's human to human transmission or if it is animal to human transmission." (Duration: 38″)

WHO says it was not recommending any travel restriction to Saudi Arabia or any other country in the Arabian peninsular.